I’ve received two formal apologies this month, which is more than usual. I was moved by the sincerity. Receiving is almost as important as the apology, how to do it.
The sun is a star, which I hadn’t realized until recently. The days are getting a little longer and I saw the sun finally this week. The sun is very large. We could fit a million earths inside the sun. 1.3 million to be exact.
Sometimes to clear my thoughts, to reorganize my thinking, I pick up space facts. Like, Jupiter has 95 moons. It is the largest and oldest planet in our solar system.
Also, a day on Venus is about 243 earth days.
Theoretically, it rains diamonds on Saturn and Jupiter. Something to do with pressure and gas and force condensing into precious minerals.
I went to a meeting where someone made a statement at the last minute that was confusing and negative and so I checked in with my trusted people and they also seemed as confused as I was. The next day I spoke with more people who were unclear and uncertain. I wanted to clear things up so I did more reading and made calls. I am still waiting to hear back and check my process of thinking. It takes more time than you might think to come to a semi-accurate conclusion.
Lately, I started inventing formulas to sum things up, mostly this started during meetings. It started as a way to have fun organizing pieces of the experience in a tiny math formula, which is not really math at all.
bored x distracted x hopeful x energized x confused x curious [divided by] 10 minutes to go.
In time there were more ideas.
Coffeehouse + teahouse x alcohol [divided by] non-alcohol + social connection squared results in increased % real time bonding.
At Eugene’s recent town hall, issues could be put into formulas like:
housing + affordable + living wages + healthcare + education - impulse gun purchases = improved lives.
Community engagement requires:
Sitting x waiting x listening x writing things down x looking out the window x crossing and uncrossing legs.
I learned more about a bill in legislation to help beavers, to support coexistence between beavers and people.
Beavers/people + trees + water + fencing some trees - lethal solutions [carried over to] supporting more life and more water = a purpose worth following.
To wrap up, I had a meeting this weekend where we did end-of-life paperwork. Nobody is dying right now, but a friend is lining things up, in the event she is on her way out. I was honored to be of support and also to be shown this example in real life. It’s courageous and mindful and makes me think beyond this realm.
Sunsets on Mars are blue.
What’s your formula lately?
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